Ched Evans...

[Kev Gee]

Evans........Why isnt he scoring? does the formation not suit him? Is he low on confidence? or just shit?

discuss....

 

[Foxy]

He's been incredibly unlucky in the last two games in my eyes (then again, you make your own luck).

I think similar to I did on him last year, a couple of lucky goals and he'll fly... Till that happens he'll keep popping up and smashing posts etc and fizzling out towards the end of games.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

Had the shot in the first half gone in off the post or off the keeper, we'd all be saying what a good performance his first half efforts were. He looked far more lively first half and was unlucky not to score. He faded second half - when Scunny got to grips with Britton a little - but I thought he was the best of the three up front. He needs a goal desperately - preferably in front of the Kop - and I think he will fly. I'm more hopeful right now about him than I have been since his home debut goal against Watford last season.

 

[JohnDenver]

People who think Theo Walcott doesn't have a football brain need to take a look at our Ched. He's got a wonderful strike on him but basically hasn't learned how to play football yet.

There's something to work with - I rather like him - but he needs goals asap.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

People who think Theo Walcott doesn't have a football brain need to take a look at our Ched. He's got a wonderful strike on him but basically hasn't learned how to play football yet.

There's something to work with - I rather like him - but he needs goals asap.

Spot on. His positional sense at times is rather strange - I'd like to see him in the box more often looking for goals. But there was a glimmer of something to work with, as you said, tonight.

Also, and this is not as a criticism of Ched, does anybody find themselves wishing that we had a poacher striker? You know, like that bloke at Doncaster? What a shame we didn't hang onto him a few more days. I think Sharp would have come good in this tactical set-up.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

I remember feeling pleased when we signed Evans but overall he has been really poor & I'm not sure how much longer we can wait for him to produce. The pace & workrate of Scunny's front 2 tonight put Evans & Cresswell to shame.

 

[Nedski]

after seeing the highlights of the derby game, why not try evans and ward together? ward looks like he really wants to score but wont get as many opportunities on the wing. 4-3-3 needs to go asap. it obviously doesnt work properly

maybe loan ched to league one or the scottish premier til christmas, get a few easier goals under his belt for a bit of confidence. a strikers main job is to score, and he's not doing it no matter how hard he tries

 

[Blade58]

Evans........Why isnt he scoring? does the formation not suit him? Is he low on confidence? or just shit?

discuss....

Well if you look at the 6 games this season, one could argue he has been a tad unlucky.

However, if you then take into account ALL of last season, I think you can't fail to come to the conclusion, he aint a striker and he aint a midfielder, infact wtf is he?

 

[puppet]

Also, and this is not as a criticism of Ched, does anybody find themselves wishing that we had a poacher striker? You know, like that bloke at Doncaster? What a shame we didn't hang onto him a few more days. I think Sharp would have come good in this tactical set-up.

I think we deliberately held back on sacking Blackwell so we could take the money for him, which is typical backward thinking United, unfortunately.

 

[kelham blade]

The good thing for me is that Speed appears to have worked out his character.

In the 'Meet the Manager' transcript (btw, thanks Linz!), Speed says that he doesn't believe Ched has ever been properly coached.

He described Ched as an 'enigma' with 'natural talent' who could potentially be a 'massive player' for us.

Something many fans have also recognised.

Interestingly, he also suggests Ched is not the sharpest blade in the drawer, jokingly saying: "The more you tell him, the less he understands".

I just hope some of what they are trying to teach him starts to sink in soon, as patience is wearing a little thin.

 

[alcoblade]

He's been incredibly unlucky in the last two games in my eyes (then again, you make your own luck).

I think similar to I did on him last year, a couple of lucky goals and he'll fly... Till that happens he'll keep popping up and smashing posts etc and fizzling out towards the end of games.

unlucky, same last year, yada yada.

£3M later, £1.5M in wages, the same sorry result.

He's crap.

Let's cut our losses, or at least try to.

Relegation is a real probability for teams that can't score. Our main striker can't score. Let's move on, please....

UTB

 

[super_pig]

it's going to take time to get the curse of blackwell out of our system.. he has to forget about running back now.. be patient.. it will happen.. perhaps his problem is that he didn't attend byron wood school and he's not a blade

 

[iggle-theblade]

to me last night Ched look a striker very low on confidence at one point in the second half he should have shot after making the space for himself and he didn't shoot.
maybe a stint on the bench coming on for the last 20 mins and working more in training with him will
take him out of the firing line and take the pressure off him.

 

[Guesty]

Had the shot in the first half gone in off the post or off the keeper, we'd all be saying what a good performance his first half efforts were. He looked far more lively first half and was unlucky not to score. He faded second half - when Scunny got to grips with Britton a little - but I thought he was the best of the three up front. He needs a goal desperately - preferably in front of the Kop - and I think he will fly. I'm more hopeful right now about him than I have been since his home debut goal against Watford last season.

It's true, had he scored instead of missing I would have thought he played better.

 

[Wards]

If there was ever a player that needed 'coaching' it's our Ched. Great talent but doesn't know how to use it.

 

[Houso]

Agree on his lack of coaching.

I like him, but his confidence really effects his motivation which in turn effects his overall performance.

Plus, as with any striker, it's much easier for the opposition to deal with him when he's the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation. If he had a partner to make some space for him, he wouldn't be so limited for space all the time.

 

[sharrow]

From watching Ched and desperately wanting him to succeed I conclude that he has a decent shot and that's about it. For a supposed striker he lacks so many basics, he doesn't anticipate, he's slow, he doesn't hold the ball up, he doesn't worry the defenders, he can't finish, he's poor in the air, his workrate is questionable. I struggle to see the potential others see. He's had plenty of chances to prove himself (just like Sharp) did and the evidence is that he's not up to it.

May as well have a look at Boggy as persevere with Ched.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Anyone that watches Ched (and has a football brain) can see that there is ability in him. After watching him for Norwich and Man City in brief spells I was very excited when we signed him. I felt we had invested in a player of genuine quality and I still do.

I'm not going to keep banging on about bad luck because that's something neither we or Ched have any control over.....but things just haven't happened for him so far and we have to be honest, we expected more from him in terms of a goal return.

I spent a large part of last season slating him unmercifully but I decided to take a step back towards the end of last term and have a look at little aspects of his game. I'm telling you now this kid has serious potential and all he needs is a mini-run of goals to set him off.

Those who knock him have a right to their opinions.....but if he's shite.....what about Billy Sharp, or Barry Hayles???? These two couldnt hit a barn door for United either, yet (like Ched) they have done it elsewhere and scored regularly. Crap players? Me thinks not somehow

The key to a striker struggling to find form is perserverance and encouragement. He's getting a bit of the former from the manager but little of the latter from sections of our support.....who frankly haven't got half of his ability and that's why they're sat in the stands.

Ched will come good. I'm very confident about it and can see he is getting closer and closer to hitting a scoring run. Watch this space.

 

[axel smeets]

People may be right (or wrong) about Ched. Some say he's shite, some think he just needs a goal and he'll be the next Lionel Messi, and some are unconvinced. But really, the question should be - and it has been raised above - how long can a club like Sheffield United realistically wait for a player to come good?

It's a fair bet that his wages aren't small (guessing in the 5-10k bracket), he is into his second season now and he has delivered nowt. It's now even more imperative than before that the players that are on the books deliver what they are capable of. Even more so because of the financial restrictions that are in place, Speed has very little room to manouver.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

It's a fair bet that his wages aren't small (guessing in the 5-10k bracket)

According to a source I know.....you're way off on his wages. If you think that's a large wage for him you would be horrified at what he is supposedly paid. Having said that, my source is trustworthy but not necessarily correct so it could just be hear say.

Cant confirm it as fact in other words.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

If there was ever a player that needed 'coaching' it's our Ched. Great talent but doesn't know how to use it.

Why is he a great talent? What's he good at?

He seems to me to be mediocre at best in every single department.

He has played about 50 matches for us now and he hasn't even reached double figures in goals.

For how much longer do we persist?

 

[axel smeets]

According to a source I know.....you're way off on his wages. If you think that's a large wage for him you would be horrified at what he is supposedly paid. Having said that, my source is trustworthy but not necessarily correct so it could just be hear say.

Cant confirm it as fact in other words.

Well, if that's true steelcity, it beggars belief that we could pay such a player anything in excess of the 5-10k bracket. If it's true, Blackwell should be sued by the club for agreeing to signing him in the first place!!

 

[GainsboroBlade]

I dont like slating players but Peter Ndlovu081 hit the nail on the head,he's played about 50 matches and is not in double figures... not good enough

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Well, if that's true steelcity, it beggars belief that we could pay such a player anything in excess of the 5-10k bracket. If it's true, Blackwell should be sued by the club for agreeing to signing him in the first place!!

Managers have no say over what players get paid.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I dont like slating players but Peter Ndlovu081 hit the nail on the head,he's played about 50 matches and is not in double figures... not good enough

Had Henderson?

 

[axel smeets]

Managers have no say over what players get paid.

Someone's head should roll though, steelcity, don't you agree? If he is on as much as you are suggesting, under no circumstances has he justified even 50% of it.

 

[DP8789]

Had Henderson?

i totally forgot about big hendo.

 

[alcoblade]

it's going to take time to get the curse of blackwell out of our system.. he has to forget about running back now.. be patient.. it will happen.. perhaps his problem is that he didn't attend byron wood school and he's not a blade

His and our problem is just that he's very rubbish and very expensive. "Be patient" - are you serious? How many divisions would you be happy to fall through in your quest to allow Evans to justify the huge resources that he's cost the club?

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

People may be right (or wrong) about Ched. Some say he's shite, some think he just needs a goal and he'll be the next Lionel Messi, and some are unconvinced. But really, the question should be - and it has been raised above - how long can a club like Sheffield United realistically wait for a player to come good?

It's a fair bet that his wages aren't small (guessing in the 5-10k bracket), he is into his second season now and he has delivered nowt. It's now even more imperative than before that the players that are on the books deliver what they are capable of. Even more so because of the financial restrictions that are in place, Speed has very little room to manouver.

Exactly - why is our job to allow him the time, at our expense, to prove that he isn't the flop that he looks like week in week out? Why do we owe him this? Our loyalties are to the fortunes of Sheffield United.

UTB

 

[DP8789]

Exactly - why is our job to allow him the time, at our expense, to prove that he isn't the flop that he looks like week in week out? Why do we owe him this? Our loyalties are to the fortunes of Sheffield United.

UTB

We owe him nothing, just like we didnt owe billy sharp anything. He has had more than enough games, and come up with diddly sqaut. His positioning is terrible, first touch is hit and miss, people talk about his great strike but he doesnt often get in postions to pull that off. if we had only paid 100k for him and if he was on 2k a week, he wouldnt be anywhere near the team. he's in that side on the back off the fee we paid and the expectations people have for him. i dont know where people get that he's a great talent and has the potential. He aint good enough from what ive seen and unless any of you on here are coaches at the lane or spy on our training sessions id like to know why you think this.